Imran Khan orders to expel absent legislators on the day of voting on the 26th constitutional amendment. PHOTO: PIXABAY
ISLAMABAD:
PTI founding president Imran Khan on Wednesday dissolved the party’s political committee and plans to replace it with a smaller body.
Sheikh Waqas Akram, the party’s Information Secretary, confirmed that the existing political committee has been dissolved and will be replaced by a smaller committee. The previous committee was made up of approximately 40 members.
Waqas said the new committee will likely consist of provincial party chiefs, opposition leaders and a few other members.
Imran also ordered that Shahid Khattak be appointed parliamentary leader in the National Assembly.
Party sources indicate that the plan may not be carried out. While Zartaj Gul has been appointed parliamentary leader in the past, this time it could be argued that independent lawmakers are not eligible for the position. Furthermore, Imran has tasked KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi with reorganizing the Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF).
Earlier, it was reported that some PTI parliamentary members had attended a National Security Workshop at the National Defense University (NDU) Islamabad on November 29, prompting Imran Khan’s displeasure over their participation. The event brought together parliamentarians, senior civil and military officials, academics and representatives of civil society.
The parliamentarians clarified their position on Wednesday.
Sources said a key meeting was held between party leaders and concerned legislators, during which the issue of participation in the workshop was discussed in detail.
The MPs told the leaders that their attendance at the workshop was fully in accordance with the instructions, advice and approval of the party.
Members noted that several PTI leaders and members had attended the same workshop last year, and expressed surprise that this year’s participation had become controversial.
It was also revealed during the meeting that PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja was not present in the consultative session. Lawmakers expressed serious concerns about the issue and highlighted the lack of a clear policy.
Sources confirmed that some members offered their resignations, but party leaders, including the sisters of the PTI founding president, persuaded them to wait, assuring that their position would be fully communicated to the founding president in the next meeting.
Mashal Yousafzai clarified that she did not attend any briefing or meet anyone, adding that it was Imran Khan who forced her to adhere to parliamentary discipline.
Another party member, Adil Bazai, described the NDU workshop as a purely academic programme, noting that 90% of PTI MPs had attended it in the past.
